Single-step gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of glycolipid constituents as heptafluorobutyrate derivatives with a special reference to the lipid portion

In a previous work (Zanetta et al. Glycobiology 9, 255-266 (1999)), it was reported that all constituents of gangliosides could be obtained as heptafl uorobutyrate derivatives after methanolysis in a single gas chromatography analysis. This report demonstrates that gas chromatography coupled with mas s spectrometry in the electron impact mode allows identification and quanti fication of long-chain bases and fatty acids without interference from mono saccharides. On the basis of ions specific for families and for individual compounds, sphingosines, sphinganines, and phytosphingosines (including ram ified, unsaturated, hydroxylated, and etherified compounds) can be identifi ed. Fatty acid methyl esters, including linear, ramified, unsaturated, and hydroxylated species, are identified and quantified in the same way. Possib le extensions of this method to the fatty moiety of other lipids (alkylacyl glycerol and dimethyl acetal) are discussed. (C) 2000 Academic Press.